Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, died just days after she was set on fire by her boyfriend, confirmed the country’s athletics federation.
Confirming the death of the athlete, the Uganda Athletics Federation wrote on X: ” We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
The Ugandan athlete, 33, who lived in Kenya, reportedly suffered 75 per cent of burn injuries following the attack on Sunday.
She was reportedly attacked at her residence in western Trans Nzoia County.
Trans Nzoia County police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said earlier this week that the athlete had been doused in petrol by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, who stormed her house with a jerry can of gasoline and set fire to her after a disagreement over land.
Dickson Ndiema is undergoing treatment after he suffered burn injuries during the attack.
Head of Theatre and Critical Care at MTRH, Kimani Mbugua said Rebecca died of multiple organ failure.
“It was a sad day on duty. We did all we could do to save her life. We had a debriefing session with the family,” Mbugua told The Standard.
“The damage had already occurred by the time she was coming in. We supported her organs as best as we could but unfortunately it was beyond what we could do,” the doctor said.
Joseph Cheptegei, the deceased athlete’s father, claimed the incident could have been avoided if the police hastened investigations.
He alleged some people were conspiring to fraudulently acquire his daughter’s piece of land.
“It is a sad day for my family. A pillar who was supporting me with nearly every duty has died because she was attacked for defending what she acquired using her hard-earned money. She was supporting me with payment of school fees for her siblings in different schools. I don’t know where I will start,” the father told The Standard.
“I am requesting the government of Kenya to protect my daughter’s property and daughters. We have no guarantee of the arrest of my daughter’s killer if he recovers,” he said.
Kenyan, Ugandan leaders mourn death of the athlete
Uganda’s minister of state for sports, Peter Ogwang, described the news of the athlete’s death as ‘disturbing’.
He posted on X: “I have just received disturbing news about the tragic death of Uganda’s athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya. The Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances under which she died and a more detailed report & program will be provided in due course.”
Kenya’s sports minister Kipchumba Murkomen said her death left him ‘saddened’.
“The tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society,” the minister said.
United Nations has mourned the loss of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei
“Today we join the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women in strongly condemning her violent murder,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told journalists in New York.
Dujarric used his daily media briefing to focus attention on this “tragic death”, saying it “illustrates a much bigger problem that is all too often ignored.”
Citing figures from UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he said that every 11 minutes on average, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member somewhere in the world.
“We, of course, think that the true numbers are much higher,” he said.
“So, if this briefing lasts half an hour, on average, three women have become victims of femicide while we are talking.”
